Legal claims defining the scope of protection. Each claim is shown in both the original legal language and a plain English translation.
1. A system, comprising: a memory having executable instructions; and a controller coupled with the memory, wherein the controller when executing the computer instructions performs operations comprising: detecting a selection of media content from a media content source; detecting that the selected media content comprises a plurality of media content types; presenting a plurality of media content type options, each option corresponding to at least one of the plurality of media content types; detecting a selection from the plurality of media content type options, wherein the selection comprises an image snapshot of video content; submitting a request to a targeted communication device to accept or decline the selected media content according to the selected media content type option, wherein the request comprises a sample of the selected media content including the image snapshot; retrieving a metadata pointer from the media content source, wherein the metadata pointer is configured for retrieving the selected media content responsive to receiving an acceptance from the targeted communication device and is configured to enable locating the image snapshot from among images of the video content; responsive to receiving the acceptance from the targeted communication device, storing the metadata pointer and the selected media content type option; and responsive to receiving a request from the targeted communication device for the selected media content, retrieving the selected media content from the media content source according to the metadata pointer, processing the selected media content according to the selected media content type option, and presenting the selected media content at the targeted communication device without the selected media content being stored at the targeted communication device.
A system allows a user to share media content with another user without directly sending the media. When a user selects media that contains multiple content types (like audio and video), the system shows options for which content types to share. If the user selects an image snapshot from the video, the system sends a request to the recipient device with a sample that includes the image snapshot. The recipient can accept or decline. If accepted, the system stores a pointer (like a URL) to the media, which also allows locating the specific image snapshot within the video. When the recipient requests the media, the system retrieves the media using the pointer, processes it according to the selected content type (image snapshot), and presents the media on the recipient's device, without permanently storing it on that device.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the media content comprises audio content and moving image content, wherein the processing of the selected media content according to the selected media content type option comprises removal of a portion of video content from the selected media content.
Building on the previous media sharing system, when the selected media contains both audio and video and the user chooses to share it, the processing step on the server can include removing part of the video content before sending it to the recipient. So, the recipient receives only the audio or a modified video stream where a section of the original video has been cut out, as determined by the sender's choice in media content type options.
3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the system comprises a web portal for transferring media content between the media content source and a rendering communication device, and wherein the submitting of the request to the targeted communication device causes the targeted communication device to pause a presentation of other content and record a demarcation point with respect to the other content.
Building on the previous media sharing system, the system acts as a web portal for transferring media. When the system sends the acceptance/decline request to the recipient device, the recipient device pauses any currently playing content. It also records a specific point (demarcation point) in the paused content. This allows the recipient to later resume the paused content from exactly where it was interrupted after dealing with the media sharing request.
4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is adapted to detect the selection of the media content from the media content source responsive to receiving information from a communication device associated with the selected media content and the media content source.
Building on the previous media sharing system, the selection of media happens automatically when the system receives information from a communication device associated with the media and its source. Essentially, another device signals to the system which media to share.
5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the controller is adapted to identify the targeted communication device from a user profile associated with the communication device that selected the media content.
Building on the automated selection, the recipient is identified based on a user profile connected to the device that initiated the media selection. The system finds the intended recipient by looking up information associated with the sender's device.
6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the user profile comprises a communication identifier of the targeted communication device, and wherein the controller is adapted to communicate with the targeted communication device according to the communication identifier.
Building on using user profiles, the user profile contains a communication identifier (like a phone number or IP address) for the recipient's device. The system uses this identifier to communicate directly with the recipient.
7. The system of claim 5 , wherein the controller is adapted to retrieve the user profile from one of the communication device or a storage device of the system.
Building on using user profiles, the user profile can be stored either on the sender's communication device itself or on a storage device accessible by the system.
8. The system of claim 6 , wherein the communication identifier corresponds to an E.164 telephone number, a session initiation protocol uniform resource identifier, an Internet Protocol address, an identifier assigned to a computer by an operating system of said computer, or a globally unique identifier.
Building on communication identifiers, the identifier used to contact the recipient device can be an E.164 telephone number, a SIP URI, an IP address, an operating system-assigned identifier, or a globally unique identifier (GUID).
9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is adapted to: present a graphical user interface including media content presented by the media content source; and detect the selection of the media content from a selection in the graphical user interface.
Building on the media sharing system, the system presents a graphical user interface (GUI) showing media from the source. The user selects the media to be shared directly from this GUI.
10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the metadata pointer comprises a uniform resource locator or a uniform resource identifier.
Building on the media sharing system, the metadata pointer used to locate the media is a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) or a Uniform Resource Identifier (URI).
11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the system comprises a set-top box coupled to a media presentation device.
Building on the media sharing system, the system itself is implemented as a set-top box connected to a TV or other display device.
12. The system of claim 1 , wherein the selection of media content is performed at an initiating communication device, and wherein the selected media content is presented at the targeted communication device without being stored at the initiating communication device or at the targeted communication device.
Building on the media sharing system, the user chooses the media to share on one device (initiating device). The media is then displayed on a second device (targeted device). The media is never stored on either the initiating or the targeted devices.
13. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, comprising executable instructions which when executed by a processor cause the processor to perform operations comprising: detecting in a graphical user interface a selection of media content supplied by a media content source, wherein the selection comprises an image snapshot of video content; presenting in the graphical user interface one or more destination devices; detecting a selection of a destination devices; and submitting to a web server a metadata pointer associated with the media content and the selected destination device, wherein the metadata pointer is configured for enabling locating the image snapshot from among images of the video content, wherein the submitted metadata pointer is configured to enable the web server to submit a request to the selected destination device to accept or decline the selected media content, the request comprising a sample of the selected media content including the image snapshot, and is configured for storage by the web server responsive to an acceptance from the selected destination device, wherein the web server, responsive to receiving a request from the selected destination device for the selected media content, retrieves the selected media content from the media content source according to the metadata pointer, processes the selected media content, and presents the selected media content at the selected destination device without storing the selected media content.
A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium (like a hard drive or flash drive) stores instructions that, when executed, cause a processor to: detect a media selection within a GUI, which includes an image snapshot of video content; present a list of destination devices; detect a destination device selection; and send a metadata pointer (allowing locating the specific image snapshot) associated with the media and the destination device to a web server. The web server uses the pointer to request acceptance/decline of the media from the destination device, including the image snapshot in the request. Upon acceptance, the server stores the pointer. When the destination device requests the media, the server retrieves, processes, and presents the media, without storing it.
14. The non-transitory storage medium of claim 13 , comprising executable instructions which when executed by the processor cause the processor to perform operations comprising: retrieving the metadata pointer from the media content source prior to the presentation in the graphical user interface of the destination devices; detecting that the selected media content comprises a plurality of media content types; presenting a plurality of media content type options, each option corresponding to a media content type of the plurality of media content types; detecting a selection from the plurality of media content type options; and submitting to the web server the selected media content type option, wherein the web server stores the selected media content type option in association with the metadata pointer.
Building on the previous non-transitory storage medium description, the instructions also cause the processor to retrieve the metadata pointer before showing destination devices, detect the media having multiple content types, present content type options to the user, detect the user's selection of a content type, and send the selected content type to the web server. The server stores the selected content type along with the metadata pointer.
15. The non-transitory storage medium of claim 13 , wherein the storage medium operates in an initiating communication device, wherein the initiating communication device is associated with a user profile, and wherein the storage medium comprises executable instructions for: retrieving from the user profile a communication identifier associated with the selected destination device; and submitting the communication identifier to the web server for establishing communications with the selected destination device.
Building on the previous non-transitory storage medium description, the storage medium operates on a device with a user profile. Instructions retrieve a communication identifier (like an IP address or phone number) from the user profile, associated with the selected destination device, and send that identifier to the web server to facilitate communication with the recipient.
16. The non-transitory storage medium of claim 15 , wherein the communication identifier corresponds to an E.164 telephone number, a session initiation protocol uniform resource identifier, an Internet Protocol address, an identifier assigned to a computer by an operating system of said computer, or a globally unique identifier.
Building on the previous non-transitory storage medium description for a non-transitory storage medium, the communication identifier corresponds to an E.164 telephone number, a session initiation protocol uniform resource identifier, an Internet Protocol address, an identifier assigned to a computer by an operating system of said computer, or a globally unique identifier.
17. The non-transitory storage medium of claim 13 , wherein the media content corresponds to audio content, still image content, moving image content, or combinations thereof, wherein the web server corresponds to a portal for transferring media content between the media content source and destination devices, and wherein the metadata pointer comprises a uniform resource locator or a uniform resource identifier.
Building on the previous non-transitory storage medium description, the media content is audio, still images, video, or a combination of these. The web server acts as a portal between the media source and the destination devices. The metadata pointer is a URL or URI.
18. The non-transitory storage medium of claim 15 , wherein each of the initiating communication device and the one or more destination devices correspond to one of a set-top box, or an Internet-capable communication device, and wherein the set top box operates in a broadcast television network, a cable television communication network, or a satellite television communication network.
Building on the non-transitory storage medium operating with a user profile, both the sending and receiving devices are either set-top boxes or internet-capable devices. The set-top box operates within a broadcast, cable, or satellite TV network.
19. A recipient communication device, comprising: a memory having executable instructions; and a controller coupled with the memory, wherein the controller when executing the instructions performs operations comprising: presenting media content associated with a request to accept or decline media content selected by an initiating communication device from a media content source, wherein the selected media content comprises an image snapshot of video content, and wherein the request comprises a sample of the selected media content including the image snapshot; and submitting an acceptance, responsive to the request, to initiate storage of a metadata pointer of the media content source for retrieving the selected media content when requested by the recipient communication device, wherein the metadata pointer is configured for enabling locating and selecting the image snapshot from among images of the video content, wherein the selected media content, responsive to being requested by the recipient communication device, is retrieved from the media content source according to the metadata pointer and processed at a portal without being stored at the portal, and wherein the selected media content is presented without being stored in the memory.
A recipient communication device receives a request asking whether to accept media. The selected media, chosen by another device, includes an image snapshot of video content that is included in the request sample. Upon acceptance, the device initiates the storage of a pointer to the media, and specifically to the image snapshot, at a remote portal. When the recipient device later requests the media, it's retrieved from the source using the pointer, processed by the remote portal, and presented on the recipient device without being permanently stored on that device.
20. The recipient communication device of claim 19 , wherein the controller is adapted to: receive the request from the portal; and submit the acceptance to the portal, wherein the metadata pointer is stored by the portal upon receiving the acceptance from the recipient communication device, wherein the metadata pointer is obtained by the initiating communication device from the media content source and provided to the portal.
Building on the previous recipient communication device description, the recipient device receives the request to accept or decline media from the portal. The acceptance is also sent to the portal. The portal stores the metadata pointer after receiving the acceptance, where the initiating device originally obtained the metadata pointer from the media content source.
21. The recipient communication device of claim 19 , wherein the controller is adapted to: receive the request from the initiating communication device; and store the metadata pointer responsive to the acceptance.
Building on the recipient communication device description, the acceptance request comes directly from the initiating device. Upon acceptance, the recipient communication device stores the metadata pointer itself.
22. The recipient communication device of claim 19 , wherein the controller is adapted to: detect that the selected media content comprises a plurality of media content types; present a plurality of media content type options, each option corresponding to a media content type of the plurality of media content types; detect a selection from the plurality of media content type options; and submit the selected media content type option, thereby initiating storage of the selected media content type option in association with the metadata pointer, wherein the selected media content type option and the metadata pointer are stored by the recipient communication device, the portal, or the initiating communication device.
Building on the recipient communication device description, the device detects that the media contains multiple content types and presents options for which types to accept. After the user selects a content type, that selection is also stored along with the metadata pointer. The content type and pointer can be stored on the recipient device, the portal, or the initiating device.
23. The recipient communication device of claim 19 , wherein the controller is adapted to: receive the request while presenting a media program; pause the media program responsive to receiving the request; record a demarcation point responsive to the pause step; and record the media program from the demarcation point in a digital media recorder; receive a second request to resume the media program from the demarcation point; and present the recorded media program starting from the demarcation point.
Building on the recipient communication device description, when the acceptance request arrives while a media program is playing, the device pauses the program and records a point of interruption (demarcation point). It then records the media program from that point forward. Upon a subsequent request, the device restarts the recorded media from the saved interruption point.
24. The recipient communication device of claim 19 , wherein the controller is adapted to: receive the request while presenting a media program; and present the request in a picture-in-picture graphical user interface that mitigates an interruption of the media program.
Building on the recipient communication device description, when the acceptance request arrives during a media program, the request is shown in a small, non-intrusive window (picture-in-picture) to minimize disruption to the currently playing program.
25. A method, comprising: storing, at a memory of a processor of a portal, a metadata pointer associated with media content selected by a first communication device and destined for use by a second communication device, wherein the at least one metadata pointer is retrievable by the processor from a media content source presenting the media content, wherein the stored metadata pointer serves to locate the selected media content in the media content source for subsequent retrievals by the processor, wherein the selected media content comprises an image snapshot of video content, and wherein the metadata pointer is configured for enabling locating the image snapshot from among images of the video content, wherein the metadata pointer is stored responsive to acceptance of a request, submitted by the portal to the second communication device, to accept or decline the selected media content, the request comprising a sample of the selected media content including the image snapshot; and responsive to a request from the second communication device for the selected media content, retrieving, by the processor, the selected media content from the media content source, processing, by the processor, the selected media content for presentation to the second communication device without storing the selected media content in the memory, and presenting, by the processor, the selected media content at the second communication device, wherein the selected media content is not stored at the second communication device.
A method involves a portal storing a metadata pointer for media selected by one device (first communication device) for use by another (second communication device). The pointer, retrievable from the media source, enables locating the media, which contains an image snapshot from video content. The pointer helps to find this snapshot. The pointer is stored after the portal sends a request to the second device for accepting/declining the media, including a sample of the selected media (including the image snapshot). When the second device requests the media, the portal retrieves it, processes it without storing the full media file, and presents it on the second device, without the media being stored on that second device.
Unknown
October 28, 2014
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